Researchers Look for New Solutions in Sustainable Aquaculture

NORWAY - Uni Research and the University of Bergen are coming together to find solutions that allow increased food production from the sea with a reduced environmental footprint.

"So, it's all about finding new ways to increase fish production with less impact on the environment. As of today, we are working with industry to evaluate and optimizing environmental conditions in different solutions for post-smolts in semi-closed and closed-containment systems," said centre leader Lars Ebbesson.

He is head of the Integrative Fish Biology Group at Uni Research in Bergen.

"We engage in the development of new feed sources and development. Moreover, we are creating novel analytical tools that industry can use to monitor the fish and see how it reacts in different environments. Thus, fish can get the best possible growth and welfare," said Mr Ebbesson.

The opening of the Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Innovations (CSAI) will also help strengthen and develop Uni Research and the University of Bergen's position as both national and international leaders in their fields of aquaculture-related research.

"In this center, we will be working with everything from basic research in fish biology to innovations. A major advantage the centre has is the broad interdiciplinary and in-depth knowledge," said Mr Ebbesson.

Mr Ebbesson also said that researchers in the centre are studying many novel ways to use environment to modulate biological processes, for instance how different types of wavelengths of light can lead to the best possible production, robustness and welfare of farmed salmon.

"This is something new that the industry is interested in, and we have a partnership with major players in this research topic. Among other examples I could mention research into tunicates, representing new opportunities for sustainable ingredients to be included in fish feeds."